Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
  • A23L27/00—Spices; Flavouring agents or condiments; Artificial sweetening agents; Table salts; Dietetic salt substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
  • A23L27/30—Artificial sweetening agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C13—SUGAR INDUSTRY
  • C13B—PRODUCTION OF SUCROSE; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
  • C13B50/00—Sugar products, e.g. powdered, lump or liquid sugar; Working-up of sugar
  • C13B50/002—Addition of chemicals or other foodstuffs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
  • A23L2/00—Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor; Their preparation
  • A23L2/385—Concentrates of non-alcoholic beverages
  • A23L2/39—Dry compositions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
  • A23L29/00—Foods or foodstuffs containing additives; Preparation or treatment thereof
  • A23L29/30—Foods or foodstuffs containing additives; Preparation or treatment thereof containing carbohydrate syrups; containing sugars; containing sugar alcohols, e.g. xylitol; containing starch hydrolysates, e.g. dextrin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
  • A23L5/00—Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor

Definitions

• This invention relates to an improved, dry, food mix containing sucrose and fructose and a method for its preparation.
• Dry beverage mixes containing sweetener, food acid, flavor and flow agent are well known.
• the primary sweetener in beverages has been sucrose, glucose or artificial sweeteners.
• sucrose is effective to sweeten foods
• nutritional reasons have recently inspired a reduction in the sucrose and/or total sugars content of some presweetened foods, especially beverages.
• sweeteners having more sweetening power per unit weight than sucrose i.e., having higher relative sweetness
• sweeteners having more sweetening power per unit weight than sucrose i.e., having higher relative sweetness
• certain high potency non-nutritive or “artificial" sweeteners have been suggested for use, both current food regulations and strong consumer prejudice against artificial sweeteners have directed art attempts at providing presweetened beverage mixes employing only nutritive, carbohydrate sweetening agents.
• fructose is 10-17% sweeter than sucrose on an absolute basis and about 30% sweeter than sucrose in a 50/50 mixture
• Fructose is commercially available in basically two forms, (1) high fructose corn syrup, (hereinafter "HFCS") normally a liquid, and (2) crystalline fructose which is a solid powder.
• HFCS high fructose corn syrup
• HFCS has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive compared to crystalline fructose and has been employed by soft drink manufactures to reduce cost of their carbonated beverages.
• Use of HFCS as a major component for presweetened dry beverages is not practical since the 20% moisture content of the HFCS makes a sticky, caked, dry food mix.
• HFCS is not as sweet as crystalline fructose.
• Fructose exists mostly in four forms as the alpha-furano, beta-furano, alpha-pyrano and beta-pyrano structures.
• the sweetness perception of fructose is, however, primarily a function of the amount of beta-pyrano form.
• Crystalline fructose is usually manufactured as theoretically-pure, anhydrous beta-D-fructopyranose for this reason (although typical analysis indiate only 97.2% beta-pyranose).
• HFCS is not as sweet as pure crystalline fructose since it is an amorphous mixture of these non-sweet fructose forms as well as the sweet form.
• HFCS also contains glucose which is less sweet than fructose.
• HFCS comprises only about 57-70% of the sweet beta-pyrano form (basis on total fructose). Therefore, crystalline fructose is substantially sweeter on a unit weight basis than HFCS (dry basis).
• crystalline fructose while having more intense sweetness, does not overcome the hygroscopic nature of fructose mixtures.
• crystalline fructose is more expensive than sucrose, but less is needed which helps lower cost.
• the prior art contains many example of dry food mixes containing monosaccharides, acids, flavor and anti-caking agents.
• a free-flowing beverage mix is prepared by coating particles of food acid with a desicating agent such as silicon dioxide and then mixing the coated particles with a saccharide material.
• the present invention relates to dry food mixes containing sucrose and fructose.
• the fructose is present as at least about 10% of the mix and has been processed to insure that no more than 10% of its weight is comprised of particles smaller than 150 microns, preferably no more than 5% of its weight and most preferably no more than 2% of its weight, is comprised of particles smaller than 100 microns in size.
• all flavors which are combined with the fructose mix have been selected to have a low water activity (i.e., 0.4 or less), most preferably one which approximates that of the crystalline ingredients of the mix. When spray dried flavor is employed, it is fixed in a matrix containing modified starch in order to maintain its water activity at or below 0.4.
• Anti-caking or flow agents are also employed to prevent fructose particles from fusing together.
• the anti-caking agents are preferably neutral or acidic to prevent caking that could be caused by reaction of basic anti-caking agents, such as magnesium oxide or calcium silicate, and fructose.
• basic anti-caking agents such as magnesium oxide or calcium silicate, and fructose.
• basic anti-caking agents they must be pre-mixed with at least a portion of the acid employed in the food mix and the acid content of the mix must be 3.0% by weight or greater.
• the present invention is directed to a stable, dry food mix which contains sucrose, fructose having less than 10% of its particles 150 microns or smaller, a crystallized food acid, flavors having water activity at or below 0.4, as measured at 90° F., and anti-caking agents which are neutral or acidic or have been mixed with acid to balance any alkalinity and to prevent or reduce reaction with the fructose. While each of the modifications made to the dry mix will individually reduce caking caused by the fructose, the combinations of fructose particles size, control of flavor water activity and use of neutral or acid anti-caking agents together give a dry food mix which will remain flowable for months under normal conditions of sale and use by the consumer.
• Anti-caking agents which are neutral or acidic are calcium citrate, calcium fumarate, tricalcium phosphate and silicon dioxide.
• crystalline fructose which has been prepared to remove most fructose (less than 10%) particles smaller than 150 microns. By removing these fine particles the coarse fructose particles are less likely to hydrate and stick to each other since fewer particles are spaced further apart in the food mix. Particle size control can be facilitated during manufacture and/or the fructose screened prior to use. Once the desired coarse fructose has been obtained, further abuse of the material or resulting mix should be minimized.
• the fructose is screened, or otherwise modified to insure that it contains less than 10%, preferably less than 8%, particles smaller than 150 microns and usually less than 5%, preferably less than 2%, of the particles smaller than 100 microns.
• Crystalline sweeteners such as sucrose or crystalline fructose which have low water activity should be used.
• the fructose and sucrose content of the mix can range from 10-60% and 20-80% by weight respectively.
• the combined weight or fructose and sucrose will usually be at least about 40% and for soft drink mixes, such as fruit-flavored beverage mixes, will typically be at least 90%, usually about 95% or more, of the mix.
• Suitable acids include citric, malic, tartaric, fumaric, adipic and their like. From 0.5% to 10% food acid is employed.
• basic anti-caking agents we try to mix the anti-caking agent with the food acid and use levels of acid above 3% by weight of the mix to reduce the likelihood of reaction between the alkaline anti-caking agent and the fructose.
• the food flavor can be any, suitable flavor provided the water activity is maintained at or below 0.4, preferably at or below 0.36, measured at 90° F. Some flavors can have a water activity approaching the crystalline sugars and acid employed in the mix.
• Spray dried flavors normally fixed in malto-dextrin must be modified to reduce their water activity. We have found that 20-80% of a modified starch may replace a similar amount of malto-dextrin to produce suitable flavors having low water activity.
• a typical spray-dried flavor for use in this invention contains 30-60% modified food starch having a molecular weight in excess of 2,000, 30-60% malto-dextrin and flavorant.
• a typical fixed flavor can be about 40% chemically modified food starch, about 40% malto-dextrin and about 20% lemon oil is mixed with 40% "N-LOC” modified starch manufactured by National Starch and 40% "LODEX” hydrolyzed corn syrup supplied by Amaizo, American Maize Products, Hammond, Ind. When mixed in an aqueous suspension or solution and spray dried there is produced a lemon flavor with a water activity below 0.36, most preferably below 0.34.
• a dry mix composition may be prepared in the following manner. Minor ingredients such as vitamins, colors, buffers, sweetness enhancers and the anti-caking agent are added to the acid already placed in a ribbon mixer. The premix is blended for 20 minutes or more to obtain a uniform blend. Each ingredient is fed separately into the blender through a coarse screen which is used to distribute the material onto the surface of the acid.
• the premix is then added with the major ingredients of sucrose and fructose and flavor, using MerrickTM Scale Feeders, to a continuous mixing screw where the ingredients are homogeneously blended without excessive handling which would produce fines.
• the dry mix is stored in large containers and transported, when needed, to packaging. Rough treatment of the prepared mix is avoided and the temperature and humidity of the ambient atmosphere are controlled to reduce exposure of the mix to moisture.
• the mix is packaged in depending on the product and its serving size.
• alkaline flow agents can be employed provided the acid level is maintained above 3.0% by weight.
• the spray dried flavors which may contain 2-8% moisture, can contribute about one half the water content of the mix, were found to produce non-caking products on storage and use.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Nutrition Science (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
• Seasonings (AREA)
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)
• Dairy Products (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24599365

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (12)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (15)

• 1991
  • 1991-01-31 US US07/648,082 patent/US5102682A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1992
  • 1992-01-22 CA CA002059814A patent/CA2059814C/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-01-22 MY MYPI92000098A patent/MY108212A/en unknown
  • 1992-01-29 NZ NZ241437A patent/NZ241437A/xx unknown
  • 1992-01-29 AU AU10554/92A patent/AU1055492A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-01-30 KR KR1019920001408A patent/KR920014428A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-01-30 CN CN92100959A patent/CN1030429C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-01-31 JP JP4016111A patent/JPH0541958A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (15)

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